There are three subfamilies of redwood trees. Two are found in the U.S. and one in China. The only native habitats in the U.S. are on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada range in central-eastern California, the Northern California coastal forests eco-region and along the southern Oregon coast.

Redwood is prized for it's beauty and resistance to rot, decay and weathering. But 95 percent of California's old-growth redwood trees are now gone and the remaining stands are protected by federal law, which means it's almost impossible to acquire quality new redwood.

But that doesn't mean that someone's desire for, say, a redwood deck is out of the question because reclaimed redwood is available. For instance, TerraMai provides redwood decking that comes from Hangar One zeppelin hangar at Moffett Field, near Mountain View, California.

The White City, Ore., company also offers building materials made from reclaimed teak, African hardwoods, Asian exotics, white oak, and many other species. These materials are designed for flooring, siding, paneling, and decking.

Other sources of redwood sources include vintage wine tanks, olive tanks, overland water pipes, barns, bridges and other structures.

The company's reclaimed teak and other tropical woods come from sources such as aging structures in Southeast Asia, and underwater forests in West Africa, flooded decades ago to create reservoirs.

Teak's natural oils make it useful in exposed locations, and make the timber termite and pest resistant. Teak is durable even when not treated with oil or varnish. Though easily worked, it can cause severe blunting on edged tools because of the presence of silica in the wood.